Damper mechanism for player-pianos or the like.



v E. T. TURNEY. DAMPER MECHANISM FOR PLAYER PIANOS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26, 1913.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE T. TURNEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PLAYER.ACTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF VJEST VIRGINIA.

DAMPER MECHANISM FOR PLAYER-PIANOS OR THE LIKE.

Application filed December 26, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE T. TURNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Damper Mechanism forPlayer-Pianos or the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to provide an improved mechanism for lifting thedampers of player pianos through simple connections which are compactand durable and easily operated.

In its preferred form the invention provides for the lifting of thedampers either by a pedal asusual or by hand or by'an automatic device,these three controlling elements being so connected as to avoidinterference with each other and to permit any one to be used foroperating the damper without moving the others.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a complete combination embodying theinvention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective of thesame omitting only the automatic mechanism; Fig. 4 is a sectional viewon the line fir-4: of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 55 ofFig. Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is aperspective view of a modified detail.

Referring to the embodiments of the invention illustrated I have shownonly the pedal action, that is the damper shaft or pedal shaft and thedevices for operating the same, the dampers themselves and the casingbeing omitted for the sake of clearness. The pedal shaft A runs from theusual loud pedal B at the center of the piano to the left hand end ofthe piano, being carried in bearings C mounted on the base of the piano.At its end the shaft carries a rearwardly projecting arm D which engagesthe lower end of a rod E which runs up to the ordinary arm for liftingthe dampers as the rod E is lifted.

The pedal B is mounted on the shaft with a lost motion connection, suchfor example as the set screw F passing through an elongated slot G inthe pedal. Normally the rear end of the slot engages the screw F so thatupon pressing the pedal down the shaft A is turned. Vhen the pedal isnot pressed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 808,822.

down, however, it is held in the position of Fig. 6 by means of a springH bearing upon the base of the piano casing; and if the shaft A beturnedforwardly the set screw F will move in the slot G without resistancefrom the pedal and without moving the pedal. An alternative form of lostmotion for connecting the pedal'to the shaft is shown in Fig. '1'. Herethe pedal B is loosely mounted on the shaft A and bears on the top of anarm J which is fixed on the shaft. When the pedal is depressed the shaftis turned through the arm J, but if the shaft be turned forward by anyother means it turns loosely in the pedal.

At a point adjacent to the keyboard so that it can be operated by handthere is located a lever K mounted on the end of a shaft L extendingfrom front toward the back of the machine to a distance slightly in therear of the plane of the shaft A. On its rear end the transverse shaft Lhas an arm M connected through an adjusting nut N to a vertical link 0which passes loosely through a hole in an arm P which is fixed on thedamper shaft A. The link 0 has a nut Q on its lower end to form a stopand to permit a slight adjustment in length. The upper end of the link 0screws into the nut N to permit a considerable adj ustment, a set nut Itbeing used to clamp the parts after adjustment. The passing of the link0 through the arm P loosely provides for a certain amount of lost motionsimilar to that provided for in the pedal B. Vhen the handle K is pushedto the left the transverse shaft L is rocked, the link 0 raised and theshaft A turned forward. If the handle K is in the inoperative positionillustrated and the shaft A is turned forward by any otherinstrumentality the arm P swings up freely without moving the link 0 orthe hand lever K.

Some players are provided with automatic mechanism for actuating thedampers by connecting a special pneumatic with the wind chest or suctionchamber when the dampers are to be lifted. Such a pneumatic isillustrated at S and I propose to connect it to the shaft by means of alink T I.

passing through an extension or arm U of the movable member of thepneumatic and extending at its lower end freely through an opening in anarm V which is fixed on the damper shaft. The rod or link T has a nut Won its lower end as shown in Fig. 4: so that when suction is admitted tothe pneumatic to collapse the latter the shaft A is turned forward tolift the dampers. If the shaft A be operated by any otherinstrumentality, however, the arm V swings up freely over the link Twithout movement of the latter. Thus it will be seen that any one of theoperating devices provided for may be used without the drag orresistance which would be encountered from the other operating devicesif they were connected rigidly to the" damper shaft. Various otherstyles of connection devised to work posil i tively in one direction andloosely in the other may be substituted for those illustrated at any oneor more of the connections. In fact, various modifications in detail andin the arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departure from the invention.

Vhat I claim is 1'. A damper action for player pianos comprising incombination two damper opcrating devices each adapted to be operatedbeingloosely connected to said shaft so as to permit operation by anyone without movement of the other two.

4. A damper action for player pianos comprising in combination a dampershaft and two operating devices therefor each loosely, connected theretoso as to permit operation by either of said devices without movement ofthe other, one of said devices being pneumatic.

5. A damper action for player pianos comprising in combination a shaftrunning from the center to one end of the piano and adapted to engage adamper operating means at the end, a pedal engaging said shaft near thecenter of the piano and a hand lever connected to said shaft also nearthe center of the piano.

6. A damper action for player pianos comprising in combination a shaftrunning from the center to one end of the piano and l adapted to engagea damper operating l means at the end, a pedal engaging said shaft nearthe center of the piano and a hand lever connected to said shaft alsonear the center of the piano, said pedal and said hand lever beingadapted to operate the shafteach without movement of the other.

7. A damper action for player pianos comprising in combination a" dampershaft, a pedal for operating the same, an arm on said shaft extending tothe rear, a linkengaging the end of said arm and extending upward, ahand shaft extending transversely of the damper shaft and having itsrear end in engagement with the upper end of said link and a hand leverfor operating said hand shaft.

8. A damper action for player pianos comprising in combination a dampershaft a pedal'for operating the sa1ne,-an arm on said shaft extending tothe rear, a link engaging the end of said arm and extending upward, ahand shaft extending transversely of the damper shaft and having itsrear end in engagement with the upper end of said link and a hand leverfor operating saidhand shaft, said pedal and hand lever being looselyconnected so as to permit operation of the damper shaft thereby withoutpermitting operation of the pedal and hand lever by the damper shaft.

9. A damper action for player pianos comprising in combination a dampershaft A, a pedal B loosely connected thereto and projecting forwardlytherefrom, an arm P projecting rearwardly from said shaft, a hand leverK connected to said arm, an arm V also projecting rearwardly from saidshaft, a pneumatic S connected to said arm V, lost motion being-providedbetween said hand lever Kand shaft A and also between said pneumatic Sand shaft A so that said pneumatic, hand lever and pedal may eachoperatesaid shaft Without movement of the othertwo.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo'subscribing witnesses.

EUGEN'ET. TURNEY.

Witnesses:

D. ANTnoNY'UsINA, LUILfi' STijBEN'voLL.

Copies of-this-patent may be obtained for five'cents each, byadiii'essing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

